Speeches

Thank you, Madam Commissioner, and especially thank you for staying with us at this rather late hour. The joint debate is closed. The vote will take place on Wednesday, 15 September 2021. Written statements (Rule 171)

Before I give the floor to our next speaker, please allow me to insert the following statement. It came to my attention that one of the previous speakers, Mr Ciocca, was displaying a banner in such a way that I, as the Chair, couldn’t really see it. We all know that displaying banners is forbidden in this Chamber, and I need to say that I find it inappropriate to play and try to circumvent the rules like kids from the kindergarten.

The next item is the joint debate on – the report by Pascal Arimont, on behalf of the Committee on Regional Development, on the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (COM(2020)0854 – C9-0433/2020 – 2020/0380(COD)) (A9—0178/2021), and – the report by Pierre Larrouturou, on behalf of the Committee on Budgets, on the draft amending budget No 1/2021: Brexit Adjustment Reserve (10945/2021– C9—0348/2021 - 2021/0022(BUD)) (A9—0263/2021).

The next item is the debate on the recommendation for second reading from the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the instrument for pre-accession assistance (IPA III) 2021-2027 (06604/1/2021 - C9-0352/2021 - 2018/0247(COD)) (Rapporteurs: Tonino Picula and Željana Zovko (A9-0266/2021).

The next item is the debate on six motions for resolutions on the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, notably the cases of Mustafa Hashem al-Darwish and Abdullah al-Howaiti (2021/2787(RSP))*. _______________ *See Minutes.

Before I give the floor to our final speaker Commissioner McGuinness, let me say something on one of the comments that was raised by Mr Ruissen which concerned the use of Chinese cameras in the European Parliament. As Vice—President of Parliament, I will make sure we look into this. If you have any more details feel free to send them to me and we will look into it and see if anything needs to be done when it comes to this.

The next item is the debate on the Commission statement on the state of play of the implementation of the EU Digital Covid Certificate regulations (2021/2782(RSP)).

–The ECR Group has notified the President of Parliament of a decision relating to changes to appointments within a committee. That decision will be set out in the minutes of today’s sitting and shall take effect on the date of this announcement.

Mr President, Madam Vice-President, the Hungarian anti-LGBTI law violates European legislation. This law does not protect minors – quite the opposite. This law makes it difficult for teenagers who are struggling with their coming out to receive information. Viktor Orbán makes this part of their lives even more complicated for them, on purpose. This is shameful. I am glad that 18 Member States co-signed a statement condemning the law. Unfortunately, the signature of the Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, is missing. Therefore, let me make it clear that many Czech citizens stand behind the Hungarian LGBTI community. Attacks on freedom of expression and other fundamental rights must not be tolerated. Having listened to some of you today, I recall that human rights are universal. We must defend them equally, not to cherry—pick which ones we defend and which ones we don’t. Madam Vice-President, I ask the Commission to act.